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we shine and reflect light, men who see the light must be able to trace it to its first source, even to the "Father of lights."

Hence then, each of us has a duty to perform as a member of Christ's church on earth. Others are to get the benefit of the light Christ sustains in us. We may not hide that light, or selfishly think it enough, if we can see our own way to heaven. We must shine upon the paths of others. We must shine by grace. Grace is the beaten oil which must keep the flame kindled. Not merely good nature or natural benevolence, but love, "the fruit of the Spirit," must be seen in our character.

For this end we must ever let Christ's hand keep our lights trimmed. When lukewarmness, or slothfulness, or pride, or love of the world are darkening our lights, let the hand of the High Priest dress the lamps. Let us go to Christ and ask for more of His Spirit, that we may shed forth more of His light.

Every day too, must this light be shining. In all companies and in all places we must shine. To be saint-like when we are with saints, is a small matter, if we hide our light when we are among the worldly, and with those who most need our light. We must shine with equal light, and then it will be with

profit often to a "crooked and perverse generation." We must shine all days alike. Not letting a little feeble light be seen on Sundays, and then none all the week days. But as in the tabernacle, whenever men drew near to the sanctuary, they saw these lights shining on the shew-bread, and the veil, and the other holy things; so, the church of which we are members should be such a light always shining on the table spread with good things of the Gospel feast, and making men desire to have. an interest in those holy things within the veil.

Who can tell how much depends on the shining of only one member of the church. We should shine as if we each were the only light. Perhaps, if you shine brightly, you may light some friend to glory.

Pray then, O believer, for more of that pure oil which shall make you send forth a clear, unflickering, steady light. Pray, that "God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, may shine in your heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. iv. 6.)

PRAYER.

O God, who didst appoint and set in order all things in the tabernacle for the instruction of Thy people, teach me, that I may understand all that Thou wouldest have me learn from these things. May the Spirit set Christ before my eyes in all these things, that I may know more of His excellency and His suitableness to my wants as a weak and helpless sinner. May I know Him as the bread of life. May I know what it is to hunger and thirst after righteousness. May I daily feed upon the bread which came down from heaven. May I never be satisfied with an earthly portion. May I more and more be filled with all the fulness of God.

May I fulfil my duty as a member of Christ's Church. May I so follow Him who is the light of the world, that I may never walk in darkness, but have the light of life. May Thy grace be seen by others in my daily walk and conversation. May others take knowledge of me that I have been with Christ, and that His light is in me. And oh! may that light lighten me all through my path here, and through the dark valley of the shadow of death, and into the glory that is beyond the veil, for Jesus' sake. AMEN.

THE ALTAR OF BURNT

OFFERINGS.

“And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four square and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof; his horns shall be of and thou shalt overlay it with

the same
brass.

"And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass."-EXODUS xxvii. 1-3.

In the court of the tabernacle and under the open sky, stood two important holy things used in the worship of the Jews. One of these was the altar of burnt offerings. The other was the laver. This last is spoken of in chapter xxx., and we are thus told the use of it, "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put

water therein; for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat, when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: so they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not." In all this we see the excessive purity and spotless holiness of God pointed out. The unworthiness of all who approached Him, and the need of being cleansed from guilt before they could be accepted, are the things chiefly taught us here. All partakers in divine worship were constantly reminded of this, for there were many ways which cleansing and purification were enjoined. The filth of iniquity must have been ever before their minds.

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But the laver reminds us that even the priests, who had been consecrated and set apart to minister unto the Lord, needed themselves cleansing in order to be accepted. The imperfection and insufficiency of the earthly priesthood was thus taught, and men were made to feel their want of One higher than the sons of men, who needed not for His own sins to offer any sacrifice, but who should be without sins, and not need any cleansing from its defilement. "For such an High Priest became us, who is

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